Thermo-electric circuit-breaker.



E; W. LEBPER. Tammo EL'no'rBIo omourr Bamm nrmcrnu mm: nu as, um. nzlnn' lov. sa. `um.

997,838. Patented July 11,1911.

I BHEBTHHBET l.

u Winpsa Vs: I nnen 'or:

E. w. LBEPBR. THERMO ELECTRIC OIBUUIT BBEAKEB. APPLIUATIOH FILED HAY 28, 1904. BBBBWEDAl'oY. 23, 1910.

997,838. Patented July 11, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

.mechanism and thereby ope ie 007,838. THERMO-ELECTRIC CIR- CUIT-BREAKER. Iinwaan lV. Laurea,A Chicago, Ill., assigner. by 'mesne assignments, to Frank B. Cook, Chicago, Ill. Filed May 28, 1004, Serial No. 210,30?. Renewed Nov. 23, 1010. Serial No. 593,959.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Enwano W. Limena, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Chica o, in the county of Cook and State of;

Illinois, have invented new and useful Iir,"

rovcments in Thermo-Electric Circuiti" reakers, of which the following is a ful'. clear, concise, and exact. description, reference being had to the accompanying drawins, forming a part of this specification.

Iy invention relates to thermal cut-mits or circuit breakers for electric circuits, my object being, first to provide such a device adapted for use in connection with either large or smiill currents, and, second, to provide means whereby such a device may be used in connection with various forms of switches and switching apparatus.

The usual form of circuit-hreaker is a magnetically-operable device, that is, a device for automatically opening a circuito erated by the magnetism produced therein by an excessive current in the circuit. my present invention I have provided a circuit breaker which is automatically operated by the heat produced by an excessive current in the circuit.

There are several advantages in my thermal circuit breaker over a magnetic eircuit breaker, one being, that with a momentarv rise in the current, above the normal, which would not be detrimental to the apnratusof the circuit, the thermal circuit breaker will not operate. while a magnetic circuit breaker will; the latter thus opening the circuit when it is not necessary. Another advantage being, that with a very adual increase of current in the circuit,

c thermal circuit breaker will always op crate when the current. slightly exceeds the normal. whereas a magnetic circuit breaker may often tail to operate, the latter therefore not protecting the circuit when such protection is required. With a momentary rise iu the current, ahove the normal, the magnetism produced in the magnetic flevire would liu sutlieicut to trip its releasing n the circuit, but tlio heat produced in t thermal device would not. he. sullicient to cause saine to opcrate. With a gradual rise in the current, ahore the normal, tlie tripping device in the magnetic circuit breakcrmay operate so gradually thatthc catch will not release and open ttie circuit until tlic current in the eir- I entty of vention by reference to the accom 1 drawings, illustrating saine, in wliic cuitI is much in excess of the normal, there being no throw of the plunger to cause the device to operate; while in my thermal circuit breaker, tlie lient produced by the gradual rise in the current, will operate the device as soon as the current is slightly in excess of the normal, the adual increase in current being just as c ective as a steady current slightly in excess of the normal.

Another advantage in my thermal circuit breaker is that it is equally adapted to both direct and alternating currents.

In my present invention I employ a heatproducing conductor, preferably n straight piece of resistance wire, upon which is soldered a rotary dctcnt, or toothed wheel, by a heat-susceptible material which is readily atl'ected by lient. The heat produced in the said conductor by an abnormally large current therein, softens the heatsusceptible material and thereby allows the said deteiit to turn upon the said conductor and thus release a spring-controlled mechanism which operates a circuit controlling means. When the heat-susceptible material becomes cool, the said deteiit is again secured to the heat-producingl conductor and is then ready to rengage the spring-controlled means. I also rovide a modified form of the invention iii which 'a sliding mechanism is secured to the heat-producan conductor by n lient-susceptible materialand adapted to slide lengthwise on the said conductor when the lient-susceptible material is softened. This sliding mechanism may be returned to its normal position upon the conductor, before the lient-susceptible material cools, after operation, or it may be used in its new position i1 ion the said condiicter as will be hcreinaiter shown. The iheat-producing conductor may be a solid *conductor or a hollow conductor, to suit the f requirements.

Another feature of the invention is, that when the thermally-operable device is em played to o crate an ordinary switch, the switch ma manually o erated, independe said thermal y-operable device. I will more particularly describe my inpanyi ng Figure 1 is a side elevation et' the rotary detent secured to a solid heat-producing conductor by a lient-susceptible material; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 1, taken o'ii line m-m, Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the rotary detent secured to n hollow heat-prf dueing conductor bv a heat-susceptible material f Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the invention, applied to a knife switch, with portions shown in cross-section; Fig. ti is a top view of Fig. 4; Fig. (l is a cross-sectional view ot the inveiitien as applied in Figs. 4 and t,

talcen on line :ef-m', of Fig. 5, with 'onions shown in elevation; Fig. 7 is a side e eva'tion of a modified form of the invention, applied to a knife switch, with a small orlion rcmoved; Fig. 8 is a top view of Itig. 7, with a small portion shown in cross-section; Fig. 9 is a top view of a sna switch provided with n modification of tlliie invention, with portions shown in erossseetion taken on ine ,:e, of Fig. 10; Fi 10 is a cross-sectional view of Itig. t), tali'en on line air-mm with portions shown in elevation; Figs. 11 and 12 show details of the modified form of rotary detcnt used in Figs. t) and 10, secured to the lient producing conductor hv a lientsiisceptible material; Fig. 13 is a side elevation of a type of push-hutten `switch with thcinvention applied thereto; Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 13, taken on lino m, with portions shown in elevation; Fig. 15 is an end elevation of a tubular cutout in which the rinciples ofthe invention are em loyed; Fig. 1G is a cross-scctional view o Fig. 15, taken on line ,m, with portions shown in elevation; and Fig. 1T is a longitudinal view of n portion of an automatic, thermal, circuit breaker, or eutout, in which the principles of the invention are applied, with portions shown in crosssection.

Like characters refer to like parts in the several figures..

The switch of Fi s. 4 and 5, coin `rising the jaws l and 1n., b ade k, and hand e p, is suitably mounted upon an insulating base t. 'lhe base t is citt away at. I, to allow the r0- sistance conductor c to he inserted therein and in slots if, a. in the respective lugs ii and e, where it is held in place hy serews'a a. rl`he toothed wheel a is secured to the resistance conductor c hy a fusible material d, Figs. 1 and Q, and is provided with aisleevc portion b which extends along the conductor a so as to give a larger soldering surface. The teeth c of wheel o, are each adapted to en gc a catch o of a pin f, Fig. tl. The pin farries n disk li and extends through one end of the cylindrical casing o to an inisolating 'knob t. The casing g is fastened to the hase f and contains a coil-spriiigj which acts on the disk li. Line conductor r is eon nected to lng which is connected to jaws l, and line conihictor r, is connected to lug q, which is connected to lug a. 'l`lie circuit through the device is, from conductor r through lug 7 hi f a, resistance conductor a. lug c jaws in. b aile la, jaws I, lug g, and conductor r. When the device is set` the switch is closed in the usual manner, thereliv causing the insulating block u to press on the knob i', in the position f Fig. tl and thus depress tlie pia( to the position a iowa la Fig. 4, or more cearly in Fig. tl, where the catch n engages one of'tho teeth c of wheel n, the disk li at the saine time de pressing springj t0 the position shown. It will bc readily seen that the wheel a holds the pin f and sprinf'j in this set position, and that the switci may be opened and closed entirelv vindependent of the excess current operable device. When an abnor- 'malty large. current traverses the heat-proand throws' 1'.: tothe position I.: tliustopening the circuit. When the fusible material d cools and liardens, the toothed wheel a is resoldered to the conductor c, in a new operative position. '1`he apparatus can thcn be reset, and operated again, as just described. This cycle of operations may be repeated as many times as desired.

In Figs. 7 and 8, I liavesho'wn a spring n,

extending parallel with the switch blade f provided willi a coiled portion v at one end thereof, and a catch o, at the other end -tlioreof ada ited to engage a tooth c of the .wheel o.. I inve provided an insulating iortion 'w separating the portions o an 1i, ofthe spring, in order to provide additional insulation between the jaws l, and m,1 of the switch, when the spring is in a set position ant the switch is opened. The portion ii ot' the spring is suitalily secured to the insulating hase t, and insulated froiii the jaws l. 'llie resistance conductor c is siipport eil h v two lii'gs z, and 2 aiiil carries the toothed wliee a near its center. Lug z, is eonduetively connected willi the jaws 1o,

4by the strip z. t When the device is set, the 'gswitchis closed in the usual manner, thereby causing the insulating roller y to depress the sprng v, until the portion o, thereof enigages a tooth o of the wheel a. It will be lreadily seen that the switch may be operated tindependently ofthe spring4 v, which reiiiaiiis in a set position when the. switch is opened and closed. 'l'lieteireiiit through the apparatus is. freni conductor r. through lug 7 lug il, and portion a, thereof. resistance conductor e, lug 2 strip z, jaws ia blade A1 jaws 1 lug q, `and conductor i'. When au abnormally large current. traverses the resistance conductor e for a short. length of time, the heat produced therein softens the fusible material d and allows the toothed wheel a to be turned upon the conductor e liv the s ring o an, iinti the tooth e releases tia ciitci a, aiitl allows the spring a a, to

lthe spring v a, taliiag'tlie position a., and there y opens the circuit. lflien the fiisitile material cools, the wheel n. is again seemed throw the switch blade lc, to the position lio,

to the conductor e, after which the dei-ice may be reset and then operated again, as just described.

Tn Figs. 9 to 12, inclusive, thc sleeve o, of wheel 0 is secured to the heat-producing conductor by a heat-susceptible material i,. This can be more lainly seen in Figs. ll and 12, where it is a so seen that. wheel n, is provided with indentures g, g, at its perip ierv. The switch bladen., referably formed as shown, is provided with a hole therethrough, through which an insulating pin q, passes and rests at its curved inner end in an indenture g, of wheel 0,. where it is held in ilaee by a spring p.. The outer end of blade n, rests between the jaws of a contact member t, which is conductivelv secured to the line conductor v., by bolt 8,. The resistance conductor c flattened at i', and is conductively secured to the line conductor l, by bolt. jv An iusulnb ing sleeve z, is loosely placed over the upper portion of the resistance conductor c, and to it. is rigidly secured the conducting sleeve f', which is also rigidly secured to the switch )lade 1n. A coil sprin (l, is placed over the sleeve f., one enc of a', being secured to sleeve f, by screw the other end of d, being secured to conductor e, at m., the sleeves f, and z, hcing cutaway at (l, to allow the end of s iring (l, to pass therethrough. 'lhe sleeve i tends through n cover e, which ineloses the device as a whole. and which is insulated from the sleeve f, by an insulating bushing b.. A linoli n., is secured to the'sleeve f, for manually operating the switch. When the heat susceptible material i'I is softened, the tension in spring n', is lsutlieient to turn the wheel n, nml switch blade n., in the direction of arrow 1),., the blade n, being held to the.wheel a., by n pin q.. lint when tlio wheel a, is soldered to the conductor 'i the tension in s ring d, is not suflieient to: turn the switch inde n, against the holdng= power of pin q. The holding power of pin l q, 1n indenture g. is not. great enough, however. but what the switch may be manually operated, opened and closed) by the thuinb knob tie pii (I, slipping from the lndenture y.. 'thc circuit. through the device is. from' lino conductor e, through bolt s., eonlnet member t., switch liladc n, sleeve f.. spring Il., heat-producing conductor e.. bolt j., and line conductor l.. When the lient- .susceptibie material 1', is softened, by an nbnornially large current traversing the resisb ance conductor e., the tension in spring d eanses the wheel (1,., switch blade n, and sleeves f, and z., to turn upon the conductor e., in the direction of arrow m, to the posi tion indicated by n., Fig. t), thus opening the switch the blade n, coming against the stop In. ii'hen t lie fusi ble material mbey is preferably y., and i iies'olftlie wheel d5' is tigni soldered t0 the conductor c,. Now, by turning the lmob rr, in the opposite direction to that. indirated by arrow 1,., the switch blade 'may be reset to its initiai closed position, against. the tension in siring nh, t ie pin g, slipping from one indenture g, to the next. where it again holds the blade n, in a set. position against the tension in spring d,t 'l`he switch may lie operated and reset, again and again, as just. described. each time the pin Q, enga vin" a new indenture (7,.

u Figs. 13 and 14, I have adapted the invention for use in connection with n pushbutton switch. The insulating head li, is provided with projections i', i thereon, ada ited to slide in grooves j., j, of guides d, al. and is mounted oh the end of pin c, which extends through the plate b, to the button fn. t0 the head 11., preferably as shown, and are adapted to engage the contact members m, and 1.2 which are insulated from each other by the insulating block lh, when the switch is closed. The lient-producing conductor o, earryine' the toothed wheel a which is secured t iereto by a lient-susceptible material is supported by a. bracket p, and a portion of A catch spring 7 is secured to the head h, and adapted to engage a tooth c of wheel n when the device is set.. When thli switch is closed, the head h., is slid along the guides nl, rl., until the blades 1', engage the contact members m, and A2 and the. catch spring engages a` tooth e of wheel o and thus holds tho head li., in this set position against the tension in spring g, which now tends to open the switch. 'llie circuit. through the device is, from line conductor 2. through contaet member mm, switch blades rn, congtact. member k, resistance conductor 0 bracket 77 and line conductor 3h. 'When an ifabnormally lai e current traverses the heatiproducing con uctor 0 the lient produced therein softens the'hcat-susceptible material ,and allows the toothed wheel a to be turned upon conductor o, by the spring g., due to the tension in spring which slides the head to the position s iown in Fig. 13 and thereby opens t-lie switch, the spring q, bcing re eased from the wheel a. which is now turned to a new position ii ion conductor 0.,. When the lient suseeptibie material cools and hardens, the wheel a is resoldercd to conductor 0 in its new osition. The device may now be reset, tio catch spring q, engaging n new tooth c of wheel a and thereby holding the head li., in an operative position against the tension in spring g The device may be operated and reset as )ust dcseribed as many times as desire( In Figs. 15 and 10 I have shown a inodified form of the invention, in which the piston itn slides upon the heat-producing condlictor w, whie is secured to the con- 'l`lie switch blades rn are secured "r, y"ofthe "ins'i'ilatir'a preferably by" solder y,

sleeve u, is rigidly secured to the piston t, and is soldered to the resistance wire w, by an easily fusible material er lie iston t, is secured to an insulating rod l b, w ich extends throiigli the metal caps 1', r, an terminates in enlarged end portions a, a, which prevent the s ring member c, from coming in contact wit i an end cap r, when the device operates. The device thus described is supported upon tivo contact c, which are adapted to eiignge the end caps r, s iown in Fig. 15. Line, sp makes contact Jround spring Iiecting point rl, iole c, in contact member e b contact with c and is normally held out o contact with cuit through tie fence is, from conductor 1.2 throiigi contact member 1i, one end cap r resistance wire w, the other end cap r abnormally large current D wire ui, for a short time, the heat produced therein softens the lieat-siisccptihle material piston t, and sleeve n, to be slid wire 10 to the position vn. b in spring c, the rod b, taking the position 2 and stpring c, taking the position e, and thereby orcing spring f, to the position f lt. wi be seen that the circuit is new broken between spring f, and contact member e and that spring f, is now connected with sprin 0,. If spring c, is grounded, there will e a ground thrown on the line condiictor Z, and thus the oh'ectionable current from l, Vwil be .connected to earth. When the heat-susceptible material a, cools, @the again and again. This form of device. is particularly applicable to circuits in which very small currents are used, as, for example, telephone systems.

l have shown still another inoditiedforin et' my invention in Fif. 1T, in which a spring member j, contro led by a coil spring la., is provided with ii catch l., which n ormally engages a rim ii, of an insiilntin sleeve m, wliichis rigidly secured to a nieta 'liifliieiiifivliich is" in turn secured to the licat-prodiicing conductor ceptible material 0,. S pu l the sleeve m, in the i irection of arrows 1 and 2, against the heat-siiseeptibl'material o, w iicli holds the sleeve m, stationary. he coil spring u, acts on sleeve m, tending to pull it in the direction of arrow 3. An insulating block le., provided with a sloping surface n is rigidly secured to the resistance conductor i,. n insulating provided with a sloping surface is rigi ly secured tothe spring member jo. When the ieat susceptible material o, is softened, y an abnormally large current in the heatproducing conductor 5 the spring li, causes catch l, to slide the sleeves m, and i', upon conductor i', in the direction of arrows 1 and 2 against the tension in sprin un, until i oc g, comes in contact with b ook le, 'and raises sutliciently to cause catch l., to release the sleeve im, the latter then returning to its original position against stop M due to the tension in i member j, position indicated Y 7':- The spring member j. in moving to tl c position j may operate a circuit controlling means, for example, springs similar to those s iown in Fig. 16, and thereby open the circiiit through conductor t licn the lieatsusceptible material '0., cools, the sleeve r, is a ain soldered tothe conductor i', as original y. In resetting the apparatus, spring member y., is moved from the position j ii'i the direction of arrow 3, until the cate l, again engages the rim c., of sleeve m as originallyt The operation and resetting of the device, as just described, may tien be repeated again and a ain.

o not wish the particular details of construction as herein s iown,

if., y a lient-susring li, tends to block QM the priciples involved.

Having thus described my inventiomwhat '-elaiin as new and desire to secure by Letters iatent is l. ln a t. ierinal circuit breaker t'or electric circuits, the combination ot a resistance rod, n toothed wheel secured thereon by a lent-susceptible material, a ciitcli adapted to engage the said wheel, a sin'ingeoiit.rollcil mechanism for controlling the said catch and tending to turn the wheel upon the said rod, and a suitable switch to be operated by the spring-controlled mechanism when the lieat-susceptible inaterinl is so tened.

In a therineelectric circuit brealtcr,tlie combination of a switch, a resistance rod connected in circuit therewith, a rotary detent secured to the resistance rod by a lientsusceptible material, and a spring-controlled means adapted to engage the rotary deteiit,

and to operate the said switch when the heat-susceptible material is-sol'teiicd.

o. In apparatus of the class specified, the combination of a metallic resistance rod, a

. rotary detent secured thereto by a beat-siiscepti )le material, a circuit controlling means, and means for turning the said deteiit upon the said resistance rod when the heatsusceptible material is softened, and thereby controlling a circuit.

4. In apparatus of the class specified, the combination of a metallic resistance conductor, a conductive portion encircling the said conductor nml secured thereto by a heat-susceptible i material, 'a circuit. controlling means, and means for moving the said conductive portion upon the said conductor when the limit-susceptible material is softened, and thereby controlliii a circuit.'

5. In a tlicrino-electric device of the character described, the combination of a iiietiillic resistance conductor, a toothed wheel threaded upon thc conductor, a lieat-susce tible material securing the said wheel in place upon the conductor, under normal circuit conditions, and aieans for turning the said wheel upon the conductor under abnor mal circuit conditions, to operate a circuit controlling means.

6. In apparatus of the class specified, the combination of a. metallic licatreducing wire, a conductive portion threaied thereupon, a heat-susceptible material normally seeurin the said conductive portion to the said wire, and a spring-controlled mechanism adapted to move the said conductive portion upon the said wire, upon an almorinnlly large current in the circuit, to oper ate a circuit controllin means.

7. In apparatus of t ie class spccilicd, the combination of a metallic heat-producing conductor, a wheel placed upon the saiiLcondiictor, a fusible material normally securing the said wheel to the said conductor, a series of engaging devices on the said wheel, c spring-controlled iiieaus adapted to engage au engaging: device of the. wliccl and tendini: to turn the said wheel upon the said coiidui-tor and thereby break the. fusible material, and ii switch iidapted to be operated by the s ning-controlled means wheii the latter is re eased b v the softening of the fusible niateriiil, the operation ot' tlie device brin iin: thassaid engaging devices siiccessivelv into engaging position with their engaging l means. substantially as described.

R. 'l'ha combination with a iiianiially-o ierable switch for electric circuits, of a tieriiiiillvo|ierabla device comprising a springeontrolled member normally held iii a set. po-

sition by a dctciit normally secured upon a licatprodiieiiig conductor, and adapted to automatically operate the said, switch upon an abnormally arge current iii the circuit, the said switch being adapted to automati erative position when manually oieriited, and also being: adapted to be manual y operated indepcndently of the thermally-operable device.

0. The combination wit-h a. manually-o erahle switch for electric circuits, of a tieriiialLvoperable self-soldering circuit breaker device adapted to automatically o )crate the said switch upon an abnormally argc current. in the circuit, the said switch being entirely independent of the circuit breaker dcvicc as far as the manual operation of the switch is concerned.

10. In a tlierino-clectric circuit. breaker, the combination of a switch, a resistance conductor in circuit with the switch, a dctent placed upon the said conductor and secured thereto iy a heat-siisceptible material, a catch for engaging the said detent, and a spring.,r meinbcr'apart from the said circuit and adapted to release tbe said catch from ,the detent, when the heiitsusceptible matctrial is softened, and thereby operate the switch.

11. In a thermo-electric circuit breaker, the combination of a switch, a resistance conductor in circuit with the switch, a detent laced upon the said conductor and se ciircrlithcrcto hy a heat-susceptible material` an engaging means for the said detent and tending to move the latter upon the said conductor, and a-s ring member apart from the said circuit and adapted to move the said detcnt. upon the said conductor when the lientsusccptible material is softened, and thereby operato the switch.

12. In a thermoclectric circuit breaker, the combination of a. switch, a resistance conductor for inclusion in a circuit, a detent placed upon the said conductor a heat-susceptible material normali holding the detent in place iipen the sai conductor, an cngaging means for the said detent and tending to move the latter u oii the said conductor, and a coil spring ai :iptcil to operate the. said deteiit. upon the said conductor, wlicu an abnormally large ciu-rent traverses tha latter, and thereby operate. tbe switch, tba said dcteiit. being: again secured to tho sifid conductor in an operativa osition, by thc cooling of the heat'siisceplih e material, subA stautially as described.

13. The combination with a switch, ol' a lieatproducing conductor in the forni of a rod, in circuit with the switch, a rotary dctent secured upon the said conductor by a heat-susceptible material, a series of cugae ing devices on the said detent, a pin, one cnil of which is adapted to engage an engaging device ofthe said detent, a coil springr act-ing upon the said pin and tending to disengage same from the said detent and thereby open l the switcli,tlic sai'd spring causing thc pin to an abnormally large current in t terial, a catch adapted to engage tie toothed wheel, a coil spring acting upon the said catch and tending to turn the toothed wheel upon the said conductor, the said spring causing the said catch to turn the toot-lied wheel upon the said conductor when the lient-susceptible material is softened by an abnormally lar Ve current in the circuit, and thereby open t io switch, the toothed wheel being resoldered upon the said conductor in a new engaging position, when the heat-susceptible materia cools, and means for reengaging the said catch with the toothed wheel, to reset the device, tlie `said switch being free to be manually operated, when the device is reset, substantially as described.

15. In a tlieriiio-electric circuit breaker, the combination with a inaniiallv-operable switch mounted upon a suitable iase, of a resistance conductor in circuit with the said switch and suitably secured to lugs which are seated in the said base. a toothed wheel placed upon the said conductor, a fusible material securing the toothed wheel to the said conductor, a suitable slot in the said base to allow the said conductor and toothed wheel to be inserted therein, a pin provided with an insulating knob on one end and a catch on the other adapted to enga e the toothed wheel, a disk near the mid le of ,ttie said iin, a cylindrical casiu: secured to "the said inse, a coil spring wit ii n the said easing and adapted to act. on the said disk,

suitable conductors leading from the apthe catch lo turn thel toothed wheel upon t ie said conpai'atns, Ilie said spring causin diictor and thereby release the said catch from tli'e toothed wheel and allow the said spring lo cause the said iin to open the switch, upon an abnormally large current iii tlie circuit, the toothed wheel being resoldered to the said conductor by the fusible material, iii a new oierative position, when the latter cools, and a handle on the switch, iidapted to depress the said pin against the tension of the said spring, an

cause the catch to reiigage the`tootlied wheel, to reset the apparatus, the switch being adapted for manual operation indevice, substantially as describe( i6. Tn a thermo-electric device of the character described, a heat.- iroducing resistance rod, a vdetent threaded upon said rod, a heat-susceptible material for normally securing said detent to said rod, and means for moving said detent relatively to said rod upon an abnormal current in the latter.

1T. ln a thermo-electric device of the character described, a heat-producing rcsistanee rod, a rotary detent threaded upon icndeii'tlymrifiesettlicrmall -o lerable del Y P said rod, a heat-susceptible material for normalty holding said ietent against rotation, and means adapted Vto engage said detent and to turii saine upon said rod, when the lient-susceptible material is softened.

18. In a device of the character described, a heat-producing resistance rod for inclusion in a circuit, a toothed wheel threaded upon said rod and normally held against`iotation by a heat susceptible niatcrial,and means adapted to engage a tooth of said wheel and to turn the latter upon the said rod under abnormal current conditions, thereby bringing another tooth of said wheel to an engaging position with said engaging means, t ic said wheel being included or not included in the circuit, substantially as described.

10. In a device of the character described, ti heat-producing resistance rod for inclusion in the circuit, a rotary detent threaded upon said rod and normally held in a fixed position thereon, a series of engaging devices on the saiddetent, a switch in circuit with said resistance rod, an engaging means for the said engaging devices, and a spring means adapted to cause said engaging means to ti'irn said detent upon the resistance rod upon an abnormally large current in the fcircuit, and to operate the said switch when said engaging means is released from said detent substantially as described.

20. Ihe combination with a manuallyoperable switch for electric circuits, of a tliermally-operable self-soldering device, a spring-controlled means normally held iii a set ositioii by the tlierinnllymperalile device andpadapted to automatically operate the said switch when released from the said ilevice, under abnormal current. conditions, the said switch being adapted to automatically set the spring-controlled means to operative ositioii when manually operated, and also icing capable of being maniiall opened and closed a ter said spring-contro lei means is set, independently of the latter or of the thermally-o erable device.

2l. In a t iermal protector for electriccircuits, a piece of resistance material for inclusion in the circuit, a rin placed upon the resistance material and he d thereto by a Aheat's'iiscep'tille material, "ineens for" li'oliiig the resistance material in a tix I and means forturning the said ring upon the resistance material when the heat susceptible material is softened.

22. In a eut-out or protector for tele ihoiie end telegra h lines,a resistance body orin clusion in t ie elect-ric circuit, a rotaryr detcnt electrically connected with tlie said resistance body and acted upon by a force tending to break the circuit aud cenienting material for holding the detent against yrotation uudernormal circuitI conditions and adapted to be fused or softened under abnormal circuit conditions-to permit said detent to turn and the circuit to be broken bv the force acting on said datent.

23.,In apparatus of the class specified, the combination of means for opening the circuit, n device operable upon an excess of current in the circuit, and means whereby the operation of the circuit opening means automatically resets the excess current operated device.

24. The combination Aot" mechanism for controlling the circuit, means operable upon an excess of current, said means being arranged to govern the circuit controlling mechanism and being arranged to be actuated by such mechanism when the latter is operated, and means for resetting such excess .current operated 'device to operative condition.

25.. In appnratiis of the class specitied,the combination of a heat concentrating device, ,awheel having n plurality of engaging dcviceaha small quantity of heat susceitible material holding said wheel normally in position, and a cireiiit-controlling spring ar ranged to engage one of the engaging-dcvices of said wheel and adapted to turn the w hce l so as to bring another engaging de vice into position for engagement when the wheel is released by the softening ofthe heat susceptible material.

m26. I n npparatus o f t lie class specied,tho combination ol' a heal. producing means, a rotarv deteut normally held against rotation u' ii lient. susceptible material, and a circuit controlling means adapted to produce a relative turniiw between the heat iroduc. ing means and the rotary detcut., wl lient susceptible material is softened.

23T. lu combination, mechanism for con. trolling a circuit, and an electro-thermallyoperable device arranged to coiperate with the 'rcuit-eoutrolling mechanism and iroed position,

ci vided with lient susceptible iiiateriiil w iich material relaxes during operation and rei saines its normal condition after operation.

28. A device ot' the character described, provided with haat susceptible material for normally ilrtaining circuit-controlling ien the mechanism, and,| allowing the latter to eoni iis released by t tnrolmamcireiiit"iipon abnormal heating, the parts' of the said device being so arraa ed that. when thc abnormal heating'subsices, the heat susceptible material again p laees the device in condition for again detaining the circuit-controlling mechanism.

I.20. In combination, mechanism for eentrolling a circuit, means for producing lient, and heat susceptible material arranged to be cliected by heat from'the lient-producing means to allow the aiparatus to operiite when excessively heated and to resolder the apparatus when the excessive heating subsides, to permit of resetting and another operation thereof.

30. In a device of the character described, heat-susceptible material rigidly 'securing iortions thereof together when cool and altions when excessively heated, the latter being again rigidly secured together by the lient-susceptible material after the excessive heating subsides.

3l. An electrical controller comprising thermally operable securing means releasablc on a change in electrical circuit conditions, and having provisions whereby it is alitoniatically resecurcd in operable condition preparatory for another operation.

35.. An electrical circuit protector comprising solder controlled dcviccs for prolecting the circuit on the assage of an un duly strong current, and iaving revisions for automatically i'esoldering itsel preparatory for anot'her o ieration.

33. An electrica circuit protector coinprising a movable part, a solder jo'int for normally securing Isaid part in position, a thermal device for releasing said solder joint, and means for nioying said Imovable part., said iroteetor having revisions for automatically resoldcring said joint with the uotector in operative condition.

till. An electrical circuit protector comprising means operable upon n n excess of current for protectingtlie circuit, and having provisions whereby it is automatically reset and resoldered in resetl condition.

35. A thermally operable electrical controller having provisions for automatically resccuriiig in operative condition parts released upon operation.

Ilt. A solder-joint., electrical circuit. protector saving provisions for automatically resoldering in operative condition parts rcleased upon o eration.

3T. In an e ectrical circuit protector, the combination of a quantity of cementing material, means for softening .said material on the passage of an nndiily stron current, a aiovable part normally heh against. ,movement by said cementing material, and means for moving said part when the saaie ie passage of an unduly owing a relative movement of the said porl on the passa c of an unduly strong current,

the combination of a device operab e upon strong current, said part being moved into position for another operation and associated with said eementing material after,l movement, whereby said part is automati-4 cally reccmented after movement. p

38. In an electrical circuit protector, the; combination of a movable part normally@ held aeainst movement by a solder joint, means or softening the solder of said joint an excess of current, and means whereby said device upon operation is simultaneously reset for a subsequent operation.

4l. In apparatus ofthe class specified, the combination of a heat concentrating device, a small quantity or body of material adapted to be allected by heat generated in the heat concentratingr device, circuit controlling means, a plurality of devices each adapted to engage the circuit controlling means, said devices bein subject to said body or mass of material-i, and the circuit controlling means being adapted in successive operations to bring sait devices one after another into position for engagement.

4Q. In apparatus of the class specilied, tho combination of a lient producing means. aK rotary datent. normally held against rotation by heat susceptible material, and circuit controlling means adapted to produce a relative turninv between the heat. producing means and t ie rotary detent, when the heat susceptible material is softened.

43. An electrical circuit protector comp A. D. 1an-l.

EDWARD W. LEEIER. Witnesses:

ltnamt B. Coon, Fanosmolt R. PARKER. 

